On January 2, 2009, the trustee charged with liquidating Bernard Madoff Investment Securities, LLC issued a notice outlining the requirements for filing SIPC claims. Notice of Commencement of Liquidation Proceeding for Madoff Investment Securities
Anyone having a claim or potential claim against BMIS should read that notice. It provides that customers of BMIS must file their claims with the trustee on or prior to March 3, 2009 to receive the maximum protection.
It further provides that a first meeting of BMIS’s customers and creditors will be held on February 20, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., at the Auditorium at the United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York, One Bowling Green, New York, New York 10004.
The trustee also has established an official website [http://www.madofftrustee.com] to provide public information about the bankruptcy court proceeding.
Typical lawsuits that one might expect to see in a situation such as this one are those filed by investors against Madoff and his entities. The most notable of such actions filed to date include class actions Kellner v. Madoff [No. 08CV05026 (E.D.N.Y. filed Dec. 12, 2008)] and Chaleff v. Madoff ( No. 08CV08260 [C.D. Cal. filed Dec. 15, 2008)] and individual action Sciremammano v. Madoff [No. 08CV11332 (S.D.N.Y. filed Dec. 30, 2008)].
- The Kellner case asserts a class action on behalf of all persons and entities who invested with Madoff, BMIS, or other selling agents affiliated with Madoff or BMIS, from as early as the formation of BMIS in the 1960s. The complaint alleges violations of the securities laws and related federal laws, including the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, violations of New York General Business Law provisions concerning deceptive acts and practices, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, and unjust enrichment.
- In the Chaleff case, a class action was brought against Madoff, BMIS, Brighton Company and its general manager, Stanley Chais, alleging securities law violations on behalf of all persons or entities that invested through or in Chais or Brighton, had capital invested with Madoff or BMIS on December 12, 2008.
- The plaintiffs in the Sciremammano case are individuals who began investing with Madoff in 1995. They seek injunctive relief to stop the alleged fraud and preserve assets, disgorgement of gains with interest, and civil monetary penalties. The alleged violations include fraud under the federal securities laws, fraudulent practices under New York state law, violations of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and breach of fiduciary duty.